The following is an interview with Michael Schwartz regarding his recent return to Kickstarter for the collected hardcover edition of his supernatural comic book series, Armored, in conjunction with Clover Press. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Schwartz about his experience in looking back at the production process for the series, his future plans for the series, the incredible backer rewards available with this campaign, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: You recently returned to Kickstarter for the hardcover edition of Armored. What will readers have in store with this deluxe edition of the series’ first volume?
Michael Schwartz: I couldn’t be more thrilled to finally release a collected edition of the first volume of Armored. This deluxe edition will not only collect the first five issues of the series, which is the first story arc, it will also include a new 10-page story set shortly near the end of issue 5. This story was originally published by Wizards the Podcast Guide to Comics in an Armored half issue that was only available through Kickstarter. That book was very limited, so many fans of the series haven’t read this brand-new story. Additionally, the book will contain a cover art gallery from all the amazing artists the series had, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the series.
BD: In looking back at the development and creation of the series, what can you share with us about your creative process in working with artist Ismael Hernandez that really made this series unique?
MS: I think more than anything, it’s Ismael’s art that truly makes the series unique from a visual standpoint. You don’t see many comics on the shelves that look the way Armored does, and that’s thanks to Ismael’s beautifully water-colored pages. Our process is pretty standard for most comic books. After I send him the script, he does beautiful layouts and once we’ve settled on those, he proceeds to penciling, inking, and watercoloring. Ismael is such a brilliant artist that he tends to nail the panels in his layouts.
BD: In revisiting the series in preparation for the collected edition, was there anything new or intriguing that you took away from the story or the overall production experience that you hadn’t anticipated when originally creating it?
MS: Being able to read the whole series over from start to finish in printed form has really made me think ahead to the upcoming issues we’re working on. While I’m incredibly proud of the finished product and wouldn’t change a thing, it did give me the opportunity to analyze what worked well and how we can lean into those aspects in future issues.
BD: This will not be the last of the Armored series, as readers will receive a preview of the next story arc in the hardcover. What are you excited for new and returning readers to experience as the story continues?
MS: Armored issue 5 ends on a big cliffhanger. I’ve made fans of the series wait months for the story to pick up, so I’m excited we’re able to offer issue 6 as a backer reward in the Kickstarter campaign. The world of Armored gets even bigger and I can’t wait for readers to see where we take Andy and Sir William.
BD: Lastly, are there any specific backer rewards that you would like to highlight as part of the Armored Kickstarter campaign?
MS: In addition to the hardcover, I’m most excited about issue 6 as a backer reward, but Clover Press will also be offering a trading card set. As a child of the ’80s and ’90s, I grew up collecting superhero cards, so it’s surreal that my comic will come with its own trading cards! I’m hoping everyone will find this set as exciting as I do.
Thank you so much for having me back to chat about Armored and thanks to everyone who supports the campaign to see the hardcover come to fruition!
